Don’t be fooled by her vibrant purple locks or contagious giggle – this lady means business! Since joining HELP as a supported employee 5 years ago Kellie has achieved some seriously life-changing goals. With the support of the Acacia Ridge HELP team, especially Senior Employee Support Officer Glenys, Kellie has not only been able to gain her forklift and driver’s license, but has also completed her Cert 3 in Disability, AND transitioned into a Team Leader role.

Previous experiences with other disability employment providers had left Kellie feeling apprehensive and anxious about work, but with the right support from the HELP team, Kellie soon gained the confidence to learn different skills, become more independent and make new friends.

“I never used to have confidence. I always used to put myself down, and say things like, ‘I can’t do it’. So having Glenys support me to say, ‘you can do it, you just gotta believe in yourself’, was a big help”- Kellie.

“When Kellie started she had no confidence. She had many skills but never knew she had the skills. So with gentle pushing by us she achieved one step at a time”, said Glenys.

It wasn’t long before Glenys recognised that Kellie was leadership material and began identifying opportunities where she could upskill for her next role.

“As her confidence grew she took on more and more… So we thought, oh she’s perfect for the Team Leader role” – Glenys.

As a Team Leader Kellie now helps to manage the day-to-day tasks of supply chain operations, allocating tasks to fellow teammates, monitoring quality, and lending a helping hand to anyone who might need it. Though there are still some tough days every now and then Glenys is always there to help Kellie navigate through any challenges that may arise.

“She’ll step in and do whatever needs to be done. She’s a very gentle person, very caring, and mothers those that need mothering. We’ve got a couple of young ones out there and she pulls them under her wing and guides them through getting used to working”, said Glenys.

Kellie credits her success to the supportive, family environment created by staff like Glenys, and Operations Supervisor Glenn who always go the extra mile to make sure everyone feels valued and part of the team. In the future, Kellie would like to continue to take on more responsibilities as Team Leader and explore a career in support work to help others.

UPDATE 2022
Kellie has now transitioned into a Team Leader position at HELP’s Acacia Ridge site and is enjoying every minute! In her new role, Kellie uses her previous experiences as a supported employee to provide unique support to her teammates, and assist with the running of everyday operations.

Congratulations on this awesome achievement Kellie – we can’t wait to see what’s next on your journey with HELP.

UPDATE 2023
New year, new me! 2023 marks Kellie’s official move into open employment. With a lot of hard work, determination, and support from her team, Kellie is now working as a Support Officer at our Acacia Ridge site.

Her advice to anyone who is still working towards their dream job is to “Go for it, and don’t be scared. There is always staff there to support you with your dreams.”

Senior Support Officer Glenys has been supporting Kellie since day 1 at HELP and has witnessed her amazing journey firsthand.

“All of the staff are so proud of Kellie’s achievements and it has been wonderful watching her grow in many different ways, that is, in her work life as well as her home life. Kellie knows that she always has her Support Team behind her in anything that she chooses to take on. Kellie is an important member of the Support Staff Team,” she said.

Enquire now to find out if supported employment is right for you. Visit our info page or get in touch.